Marking device.



PATBNTED OUT. 23, 1906.

w. B. AYER. MARKING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1905.

WILLIAM B. AYER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MARKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1906.

Application filed August 3, 1905. Serial No. 272,475.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM IAYER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marking Devices,-of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to identifying or marking devices, and has particular reference to devices for lndenting numbers upon barrels, boxes, casks, packages, pack1ng.

cases, and the like by means of a set of dies or punches having cameo or relief designs, numbers, or letters formed on their faces which will make intaglio reproductions upon the body of the article to be marked for identification.

The particular object of the invention is to provide a device adapted for use by revenue 1nspectors and other persons whose duty it is to identify and record original packages, barrels, &c., containing spirituous liquors and articles of merchandise. A device commonly employed for this purpose is in the form of a hammer-like tool comprising a handle or helvehaving a striking-head that com prises, substantially, a series of circularlyarranged hubs having designs or characters cut on their ends, each of which is in turn adjustable at right angles to the helve or handle or into a relative position corresponding to that of the peen or poll of a hammer. When a number is to be impressed upon, say, a cask of whisky, the operator adjusts successively each figure of the number into striking position and swings the devicein delivering a blow for each figure in the number. ,-Tllis method of applying numbers is uncertain, clumsy, comparatively slow, and produces unsatisfactory work unless the operator is exceptionally expert or unerring in delivering swinging blows. sult is numbers the individual figures of which are irregularly arrangedthat is, they occupy varying degrees of relative inclination, are unevenly spaced apart, are scattered, are out of alinement, are piled upon each other, or unevenly impressed, &c. Such numbers are more or less illegible and diflicult or slow to read.

7 My invention is designed to overcome the above-named objections to old methods by making provision for the adjustment of each individual hub, die, or punch upon the exact spot where the indentation is to be made and As a rule, however, the reits retention thereupon until the blow or impact has been delivered.

My nvention further makes provision for guiding unerringly the element that delivers the blows upon the punches. and for its operation by one hand of the operator, while the other hand is free to adjust the punches and hold each of them steady, thus contributing toward accurate and rapid work.

With the above general objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, a portion of the guide-rod being broken away. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, taken on a vertical plane at right angles to the vertical plane of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view and section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referrin to the drawings, 2 represents a fork, in eac branch of which is a bearing for the revoluble shaft 3, to which is secured a wheel 4. The shaft 3 is rotatable by means of a handle 5. Said shaft also carries an indicat0r-wheel 6, having a series of circularlyarranged characters 7, corresponding to a similar series of characters on punches, hubs, or dies 8, secured to and radiating from the axis of markin -wheel 4. The characters on indicator-whee 6 and marking-wheel 4 are oppositely arranged. For the purpose of illustration I have shown the characters as the ten digits or Arabic numerals, which are relatively arranged on the two wheels, so that when the cipher or figure 0 is in line with the guide-rod 9 or at the lowest point in Fig. 1 said figure on the indicator-wheel. 6 is at its highest or best visible point, as shown inFig. 3. Slidably mounted on the rod 9 is a weight or hammer 10, which is in the form of the handgrip portion of a rounded handle, through the long axis of which is a bore for said rod 9. On the upper end of the rod is a knob 11, which limits the upward movement of the hammer 10 or prevents it from slip ing off the rod. An indicator 12 is secured to the fork immediately above the indicator-wheel, and when any-given figure or character on the latter is opposite said indicator the corresponding figure on the figure-wheel is in strikingI position.

.n o eration the user grasps the handle 5 in one and and the hammer 10 in the other hand. He then by means of handle 5 rotates the wheel 4 to place the desired digit or character in striking position, being guided by the wheel 6 and indicator 12, raises the handle 10, bringing it down again upon the fork 2 to drive the face of the punch into the article to be marked, and rotates the neXt punch into position. The operations of making a series of indentations or a number may be rapidly and conveniently performed, as the hand grasping the handle 5 may be devoted exclusively to adjusting the wheel, while the hand grasping hammer 10 assists in supporting the punch, while free to operate the hammer.

While in my arrangement the blows from the hammer are transmitted to the punches through the shaft or axis 3, I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to this particular arrangement, as my invention is capable of such modification in its embodiment that the blows may be delivered directly upon the punches themselves.

Other modifications may also be made Without departing from the spirit of my in.- vention, as will appear in the subjoined claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a set of dies adjustably movable in the path of a circle; with an operating-handle common to all of said dies; a grip movable radially relative to said circle, said grip serving as a hammer; and means for adjusting each of said dies successively into alinement with said hammers path of movement.

2. The combination with a support, of a set of dies or punches revolubly mounted on said support; a hammer mounted for reciprocal movementon said support, and means whereby one hand of the operator may be employed to adjust said dies or punches relatively to said hammer while the other hand of the operator manipulates said hammer.

3. The combination, with a support; of a set of dies or punches revolubly mounted on said support; a pair of grips or handles for guiding said support, one of said grips arranged to serve as a striking-hammcr and the other grip arranged to adjust said dies or pimches into successive operative relation with said hammer.

4. The combination of a set of revolublyadjustable dies each of which is arranged radially to its center of rotation, a hammer mounted to move radially to said center of rotation, means for rotating all of said dies simultaneously, said means and said hammer serving as grips through which said dies and hammer are supported by the operator.

5. In combination, a fork, a wheel having radially-projecting dies or punches therein, said wheel revolubly mounted in said fork, an indicator-wheel 6 mounted exteriorly of said fork, a handle 5 for rotating both of said wheels, a hammer 10, and the rod 9 for guiding said hammer.

6. In combination, a fork 2, a marking- Wheel 4 rotatively mounted between the members of said fork; an indicato1\vl1eel (3 rotatable on the axis of the wheel 41, the latter having a series of peripherally-projecting dies or punches 8 each adapted to reproduce a separate figure or design, and the wheel 6 having on its periphery homologous figures or designs, but arranged radially opposite with respect to the wheel 4; a handle 5 for rotating wheels 4 and 5 a guide-rod 9 on the fork 2, and the hammer 10 mounted upon said guide-rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM B. A)? Eli.

Witnesses H. S. IIoY,

J. EDWARD Kine. 

